Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells celebrates 50 years at Royal Festival Hall

Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells will celebrate its 50th anniversary with a series of live concerts at the Royal Festival Hall in August 2021. Book Tubular Bells Live tickets now.

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Tubular Bells Live is coming to the Royal Festival Hall in August 2021. The spectacle will mark the 50th anniversary of Tubular Bells, the debut studio album by English multi-instrumentalist, composer and songwriter Mike Oldfield. Oldfield, who was just 17 years old when he started composing the music, recorded and played almost all of the instruments on the album. Conceived in 1971 and finally released in 1973, it gained worldwide acclaim when the opening theme was used for the soundtrack of the horror film The Exorcist.

Tubular Bells is a progressive journey through classical, jazz, folk, prog-rock and electronica. Ten performers from Circa Contemporary Circus present Oldfield’s work in its physical form, their heart-stopping acrobatics intricately woven together to reflect the music.

Tubular Bells 50th Anniversary Live is directed by Yaron Lifschitz. The musical director, Robin Smith, has collaborated with Mike Oldfield over three decades including memorable performances of Tubular Bells at Edinburgh Castle in 1992 and at the London 2012 Olympics Opening Ceremony.

“It’s amazing to think that it’s 50 years since I started writing Tubular Bells, and I am touched that my music has reached so many people, all over the world, during that time,” says Oldfield. “I have worked with Robin A Smith for almost 30 years, since we presented Tubular Bells together at Edinburgh Castle, through lots of different performances and recordings culminating in the London Olympics in 2012. When I started thinking about reinventing Tubular Bells for live performance with dancers and acrobats—and of course live music, it was Robin who I knew could realise this vision. I am thrilled that this is finally coming to the stage and I trust no-one more to reimagine my work in this way. “I am sure that the 50th anniversary live concert experience of Tubular Bells will be spectacular, theatrical, fantastical and thrilling. I’m so excited it is premiering in 2021, marking 50 years from when I started writing the music and will be touring the world through to 2023, the 50th anniversary of the original album release.”

Tubular Bells will be presented at the Royal Festival Hall, London from 7 - 15 August 2021

Tubular Bells is recommended for ages 12+.

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